Highlights
- Apennine mountain scenery
- Chestnut forests
- Berceto Cathedral
- Mountain villages
- Gateway to Cisa Pass
Stage conditions
| Section | Apennines (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Moderate |
| Shade | Full |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Fornovo di Taro station is on the Parma–La Spezia line and the Fidenza–Fornovo branch, with Trenitalia regional trains and TEP buses. Berceto has no station in the town: the stop called Berceto on the Parma–La Spezia line is at Ghiare, in a sparsely populated spot down in the valley, with around 55 regional trains a day to Parma, La Spezia and Pontremoli, and is linked to the town by TEP's Pronto Bus Extra, an on-demand bus booked by phone on weekdays. TEP also runs a Parma–Berceto coach, and the source stage page names TEP bus 2510 on the Fornovo–Berceto line.
What the season does
Best months are May to October, and unusually this stage keeps July and August because it is marked full shade under chestnut forest and climbs to 961 m. Spring is wet and green, with the Taro tributaries running; autumn brings chestnuts and clear air, but fog can fill the valleys and the Cisa pass is the wettest part of the Apennines, with October the wettest month. The stage notes warn that mountain weather can change quickly, so carry a waterproof in any month.
Safety on this stage
Graded hard: 30 km, 1,391 m of ascent, nine hours. The stage notes warn of a sustained steep ascent, fast-changing mountain weather, and tells you to carry water and food and start early. The paths are mule tracks through forest and hamlets, steep and slippery when wet; poles help. The source stage page for the Cassio–Berceto section notes overgrown vegetation and summer insects around km 8 to 8.6, and a crossing of the SS62 Cisa road at Tugo beyond Berceto. Cassio is the natural place to split the day.
Water and food
Water is marked moderate, and the stage notes tell you to carry enough. The source stage pages confirm fountains in every inhabited centre, but the villages are small and spread out: Sivizzano, Bardone, Terenzo and Cassio on the way up, with long forest stretches between. Fornovo is the last real shop; Cassio has the hostel and a bar. Carry two litres and lunch from Fornovo, refill at Sivizzano and Terenzo, and top up at Cassio before the final climb to Berceto.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory has no listing yet at Berceto, but the town is well served. The Ostello Berceto in the old seminary at Via Evasio Colli 10, run by the Diocese of Parma, has 44 beds in single, double and multiple rooms plus space for sleeping bags, and is open all year to Via Francigena pilgrims; the source stage page lists it as the Casa della Gioventù. The Emilia-Romagna route site adds the Ostello Via Francigena at Valbona and the Ostello di Cassio at Cassio if you split the stage; the Tuscan route site lists the Locanda Pasquinelli, Albergo Rino and several B&Bs in the old town.
Sources: Wikipedia — Fornovo railway station · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Berceto · Regione Emilia-Romagna (Ambiente) — Berceto, collegamenti con i mezzi pubblici · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT20 Fornovo di Taro – Cassio · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT21 Cassio – Passo della Cisa · Ospitalità Religiosa — Ostello Berceto · Cammini Emilia-Romagna — Fornovo di Taro – Cassio, dove dormire · Francigena Toscana — Da Cassio al Passo della Cisa: ospitalità ai pellegrini · Wikipedia (it) — Passo della Cisa
Common questions
How long is the Fornovo di Taro to Berceto stage?
It is 30.0 km (18.6 mi) and takes about 9 hours of walking, from Fornovo di Taro to Berceto.
How hard is Fornovo di Taro to Berceto?
It is rated hard with 850 m of ascent and 250 m of descent over mountain terrain.
Is there water on the Fornovo di Taro to Berceto stage?
There is a moderate amount of water along this stage — carry enough between resupply points.
How do I get to Fornovo di Taro and away from Berceto?
Fornovo di Taro station is on the Parma–La Spezia line and the Fidenza–Fornovo branch, with Trenitalia regional trains and TEP buses. Berceto has no station in the town: the stop called Berceto on the Parma–La Spezia line is at Ghiare, in a sparsely populated spot down in the valley, with around 55 regional trains a day to Parma, La Spezia and Pontremoli, and is linked to the town by TEP's Pronto Bus Extra, an on-demand bus booked by phone on weekdays. TEP also runs a Parma–Berceto coach, and the source stage page names TEP bus 2510 on the Fornovo–Berceto line.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Berceto?
Our directory has no listing yet at Berceto, but the town is well served. The Ostello Berceto in the old seminary at Via Evasio Colli 10, run by the Diocese of Parma, has 44 beds in single, double and multiple rooms plus space for sleeping bags, and is open all year to Via Francigena pilgrims; the source stage page lists it as the Casa della Gioventù. The Emilia-Romagna route site adds the Ostello Via Francigena at Valbona and the Ostello di Cassio at Cassio if you split the stage; the Tuscan route site lists the Locanda Pasquinelli, Albergo Rino and several B&Bs in the old town.
Walk this stage
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